Cableway Problems Assessed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32120, 16 October 1969, Page 12

Cableway Problems Assessed

No outstanding problems in the construction of the Mount Cook cableway are expected by the Austrian consortium which has been asked to contract for its supply and erection.

Representatives of the consortium, led by Dr Walter Sedlaczek, of the Austrian company of Waagner-Biro, the consortium’s leader, arrived back in Christchurch vesterday after a two-day final inspection of the area. In a telephone interview last evening Dr Sedlaczek said that the difficulties expected by the consortium were those always found in any piece of work undertaken in an alpine region. •‘We wiH have to overcome problems :aused by wind and rock face,’’ he said “But, we should have no difficulty.; Thj-.JK a situation similar to; titit >t>und in Europe and we a Experienced enough in ourfiitid to overcome if

Dr Sedlaczek said that, although there were no outstanding problems, no-one was predicting a trouble-free time. This was to be the largest cableway in the Southern Hemisphere and there would be hitches. A cost of 8900,000 for the cableway was projected by the consortium, said Dr Sedlaczek. This figure was based on the expense involved in erecting comparable constructions in Europe. Local content and labour would be used as much as possible in line with the consortium's policy. Dr Sedlaczek said that the inspection yesterday and on Tuesday was a completion of investigations which preceded the formulating of a final offer.

“The results of the studies made of the area will be collated before we make a definite price schedule,” he said.

Dr Sedlaczek said that construction ’of the cableway provided a wonderful opportunity to open one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand. The Southern Alps were as impressive as those of the major European mountain ranges and would be a great attraction for tourists.